GO LISTEN: Monthlong Poe festival kicks off April 1

PAM KRAGEN pkragen@nctimes.com

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A monthlong festival dedicated to the writings of 19th-century American author Edgar Allan Poe kicks off April 1 with a family festival in Balboa Park, and continues through May 1 with readings, performances, films, art projects and more.

"The Big Read: Shades of Poe" was developed by Write Out Loud, a San Diego arts group that uses public readings and art projects to raise awareness on works of literature. Most of the events this month are free, thanks in part to a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts.

Orphaned as an infant in 1809, Poe was taken in by a wealthy Virginia couple who cut him off when he quit school to be a poet. The twice-widowed Poe spent most of his short life in poverty, traveling up and down the Eastern seaboard as an itinerant magazine editor, book critic and poet.

With the publication of "The Raven" in 1845, Poe's name became a household word. Other famous Poe stories and poems include "The Masque of the Red Death," "The Tell-Tale Heart," "The Murders in the Rue Morgue," "The Fall of the House of Usher," "The Pit and the Pendulum," The Premature Burial," "The Black Cat," "The Bells" and "Annabelle Lee." Today, Poe is recognized as the originator of the detective novel, and a pioneer in the genres of science fiction and horror. He died of mysterious causes at the age of 40 in a Maryland hospital.

Although Poe has been popularized in fiction as a drug addict and madman, literary experts say these depictions are false and were spread in the years after his death by Rufus Griswold, a self-appointed biographer who long held a grudge against Poe over his harsh review of Griswold's book.

This month's "Shades of Poe" series will include more than 30 exhibits, readings, discussions and performances at venues all over the county, including one event April 17 in Carlsbad.

The festival begins with the Family Festival Day at 2 p.m. April 1 at the Spreckels Organ Pavilion in Balboa Park. San Diego Civic Organist Carol Williams will perform Poe-inspired selections on the outdoor pipe organ.

Then at 7 p.m. Monday, April 2, the free opening night celebration at the Lyceum Theatre in Horton Plaza will include a concert performance of a student-written opera based on Poe's "The Cask of Amontillado," starring local actors David McBean and Phil Johnson. The opera was developed through San Diego Opera's Words and Music program.

"From a raven-painted skateboard to a student-composed opera based on one of Poe's stories, these presentations will encourage everyone to take another look at an American literary icon," said Veronica Murphy, artistic director of Write Out Loud, in a statement.

April 1
:
Spreckels Organ Pavilion Family Festival Day
----- Celebrates Edgar Allan Poe with readings of his poetry as well as music inspired by Poe, played by Carol Williams, San Diego Civic Organist; plus a Poe Art activity table for children; 2 p.m.; Spreckels Organ Pavilion, Balboa Park, San Diego.

April 2
:
Festival opening night
---- A festival overview will be offered as well as a readings of Poe work by professional actors and a performance of "The Cask of Amontadillo," an operatic version of Poe's tale written by students at Southwest High School and starring David McBean and Phil Johnson; 7 p.m.; Lyceum Theatre, 79 Horton Plaza, San Diego.

April 3:
"The Pit and The Pendulum" screening
---- Mira Mesa Library hosts a screening of Roger Corman's 1961 horror film starring Vincent Price, based on Poe's story about a man facing a grisly death by a 16th-century Spanish torture device; 4 p.m.; 8405 New Salem Street, San Diego.

April 5: Edgar Allan Poe's Life, Love, Work and Influence
---- Morgenstern leads this presentation on Poe's life and work; 7 p.m.; Progress, South Park, 2225 30th St., San Diego.

April 7, 14, 21, 28: Tram-Stopo Poe Readings
---- Professional actors will read poems by Poe and hand out bookmarks at select San Diego Trolley stations; 1 to 4 p.m.; April 7 in Santee; April 14 in Chula Vista; April 21 in La Mesa; April 28 in Old Town.

April 9: "In The Shadow of the Master"
---- A reading of a Poe mystery story and stories by other favorite mystery writers. Author Jan Burke will speak about Poe's influence on the genre; 7 p.m.; Cygnet's Old Town Theatre, 4040 Twiggs Street, San Diego; this event requires a paid ticket; 619-297-8953.

April 10: Mo Poe Favorites
---- Students from Wangenheim Middle School in Mira Mesa and professional readers from Write Out Loud will read Poe works and students will display Poe-inspired artwork. SDSU English professor Bill Nericci will discuss the influence of Poe on the current fantasy phenomenon; 6:30-7:30 p.m.; Mira Mesa Library, 8405 New Salem Street, San Diego.

April 11:
The Language of Poe
---- Charles Harrington Elster, author and co-founder of radio's "A Way With Words," will speak about the language of Edgar Allan Poe. Write Out Loud readers will read selected works; 6:30 p.m.; Kensington Library, 4121 Adams Avenue, San Diego.

April 13: Graffiti Art Workshop I
---- Artists from Writerz Blok will review graffiti art history, techniques for creating graffiti art and how to incorporate Poe's work into graffiti art (first of a two-part workshop); 4-5:30 p.m.; Logan Heights Library, 567 South 28th St, San Diego.

April 13: "Pit and the Pendulum"
---- L.A. actor Jason Rennie presents a free solo show based on the Poe horror tale after Intrepid Shakespeare Company's performance of "The Turn of the Screw"; 9:30 p.m.; San Dieguito Academy, 800 Santa Fe Drive, Encinitas.

April 14: Graffiti Art Workshop II
---- Writerz Blok graffiti artists help students design, create and complete graffiti art based on Poe's literature, working together on a large portable frame. Artwork will be displayed in the library in April; 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.; Logan Heights Library, 567 South 28th St, San Diego.

April 16: "Orpheus Speaks: The Music of Poe"
---- Nick Reveles, education director of San Diego Opera, will discuss Poe's influence on the French Symbolists. Write Out Loud members will read selections of Poe, Mallarme, and other stories of music and art; 7:30 p.m.; Athenaeum Library of Art & Music, 1008 Wall Street, La Jolla; ticket purchase required; 858-454-5872.

April 17: "In The Shadow of the Master"
---- A reading of a Poe mystery story and stories by other mystery writers. Author Alan Russell will speak about Poe's influence on the genre; 7 p.m.; Schulman Auditorium, Carlsbad City Library, 1775 Dove Lane, Carlsbad; ticket purchase required; 619-297-8953.

April 17: "The Masque of the Red Death" screening
---- Mira Mesa Library host a screening of Roger Corman's 1964 film starring Vincent Price about a satanic prince who terrorizes peasants during an outbreak of the plague; 6 p.m.; Mira Mesa Library, 8405 New Salem St., San Diego.

April 18: Poe Alive and Aloud
---- Readers present works by Poe and other works of Gothic literature; 6:30 p.m.; Kensington Library, 4121 Adams Ave., San Diego.

April 19: Poe Lives
---- Students and professional artists present student-written Poe-inspired works of dance, music and literature; 7 p.m.; Salvation Army's Kroc Center, 6845 University Ave., San Diego.

April 21: "Cask of Amontillado" reading
---- A Brick by Brick Reading at the Quilt Gathering in Old Town San Diego State Historic Park; 1 p.m.; 4002 Wallace St., San Diego.

April 22: The Nature of Poe
---- Write Out Loud members read Poe's nature and garden-themed pieces, "The Domain of Arnheim" and "Landor's Cottage"; 3 p.m.; Mission Trails Park, 1 Father Junipero Serra Trail, San Diego.

April 23: Nancy Holder on Poe
---- The best-selling author of "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" and "Saving Grace" will discuss Poe and his influence on horror writing. In honor of World Book Night, 20 copies of "The Great Tales & Poems of Edgar Allan Poe" will be distributed; 7 p.m.; Mysterious Galaxy Bookstore, 7051 Clairemont Mesa Blvd., San Diego.

April 25: Poe's a Poppin!
---- Members of the Logan Heights Choral Ensemble for Kids will sing Poe-inspired songs. Teens from Kim Noriega's poetry workshops will present a "call and response" poetry reading combining Poe's poems and their own original work. Original Poe-inspired music will be presented by The Felines and student artwork will be displayed; 5 p.m.; Logan Heights Library, 567 S. 28th St., San Diego.

April 26: Arts & Literature Family Night
---- Dance students will present a Poe-inspired dance piece choreographed by Eveoke Dance Theatre. Eveoke will also lead a group "Raven" dance, and families will have an opportunity to create Poe inspired art projects. Each family will go home with a copy of "Bunnicula Meets Edgar Allan Crow"; 6:30 p.m.; Salvation Army's Kroc Center, 6845 University Ave., San Diego.

April 28: "Premature Burial"
---- Inspired by Poe's haunting story of the same name, participants can write their own epitaph and have their photo taken in a 19th-century coffin. A literary seance will be conducted by Madame Olga, bringing back the spirits of Edgar Allan Poe and Mary Shelley ("Frankenstein"), to decide who is the more important writer of Gothic horror; 2-4 p.m.; Casa de Estudillo in Old Town San Diego State Historic Park, 4002 Wallace St., San Diego.

April 29 & 30: Poe films discussion
---- Local film critic and historian Scott Marks will lead discussions on two of Roger Corman's horror film adaptations of Poe works, "The Pit and the Pendulum" (2 p.m. April 29) and "The Fall of the House of Usher" (6:30 p.m. April 30); San Diego Central Library, 820 E St., San Diego.

May 1: Grossmont Community College Literary Arts Festival
---- Write Out Loud members will read favorite and lesser-known selections of Edgar Allan Poe at the festival; 2 p.m.; Grossmont College, 8800 Grossmont College Drive, La Mesa.